19 People Found Frozen to Death at Turkey-Greece Border
The Claim
A number of people have died due to freezing weather after being pushed back by Greek authorities at the Ipsala border crossing.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users are circulating a claim that 12 or 16 people have died after being pushed back by Greek border control under freezing temperatures. The claims share blurred pictures of bodies laying on the floor, adding that some were stripped of their clothes and shoes.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and discovered it to be true; it was reported by a number of credible news outlets, including CNN, EuroNews, and the Guardian. Furthermore, the original tweet was sent by Suleyman Soylu of the Turkish Ministry of Interior. While reports initially stated that 12 people had died, by Thursday, February 3rd, the number had risen to 19. The bodies were discovered near Turkey's Ipsala border crossing with Greece, which has become a significant transit point for migrants attempting to enter the European Union.
According to Turkish authorities, the Greek border control authority is illegally pushing back migrants and, in this case, stripping them naked. The bodies do appear scantily dressed in some of the shared images. Greece has denied the claims, claiming that the migrants did not cross their borders. Turkey's responsibility was to prevent illegal departures, citing a 2016 agreement between Turkey and the European Union.
For years, Greece has been accused of illegal pushbacks, investigations and reports by NGOs such as Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Agency, and the Council of Europe and migrants. They allege that the Greek Coast Guard and border patrols are the perpetrators, yet Greek authorities continue to deny any wrongdoing.
The Misbar team confirms that 19 migrants died from hypothermia near the Ipsala border crossing, according to the findings.
